Stark Insider Wanderlust: Towers Lotte New York Palace

Without a doubt, NYC is one of the world’s most exciting places to visit, crammed with irresistible restaurants, shops, museums, and theater… but let’s face it, while it may be the city that never sleeps that doesn’t mean you won’t want to!

After jostling through crowds all day all I want is some quality down time in a comfy, quiet, upscale hotel.

The Towers private entrance

The Towers Lotte New York Palace is the perfect choice since not only does it have a primo location at 50th & Madison (providing easy walking to numerous sites such as Central Park, Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral) but The Towers, an exclusive gem of a hotel-within-a-hotel that occupies floors 41 to 54 of the iconic Lotte Palace Hotel, also provides stellar skyline views and blessed, church-like silence.

The sophisticated, condo-like, executive suites are decorated in soothing neutral tones with a full-sized desk in the separate work area, pristine marble bathrooms generously filled with assorted Molton-Brown toiletries and just the right amount of technology including 42-inch plasma TVs, iPod dock, free WiFi, and a user-friendly, control panel that instantly adjusts your heat, lights, TV, curtains and a wake-up call without leaving the comfort of your plush bed.

Control panel

Other thoughtful touches include a complimentary shoeshine, valet pressing, shuttle to B-way theaters, a daily newspaper, plus they are pet-friendly!

Macarons made in-house

The Gatsby-like lobby is filled with elegant Tiffany stained glass windows, gilded ceilings, and a sweeping grand staircase, lovely leftovers from 1882 when it was a private mansion for financier Henry Villard.

Palace Lobby

The fine-dining restaurant, VILLARD, features exceptional, locally sourced, New American fare, which you can work off in the 7,000 square foot Spa and Fitness center offering a variety of signature treatments. Love that exercise clothing and cross-training sneaks are complimentary to use during your stay.

Inside Tip:

If you’re looking for something fun to do, after a fantastic night’s sleep, check out Like A Local tours. L.A.L. offers a unique selection of immersive tours showcasing the best of the best sights and tastes in NYC and Brooklyn.

Best Brooklyn “Q”

Whether you’re a foodie, fashionista, art lover, or history nerd, oops, I mean buff, they have just the right tour for you, led by one of their well-trained guides/working actors. I think I put on a pound per hour during the three-hour “Williamsburg Bites-Brooklyn Food” walking tour, but it was well worth it. Kate, our unbelievably knowledgeable guide (who should so go on Jeopardy) regaled us with all sorts of interesting trivia while we stuffed our faces with the world’s best pierogi, pizza, BBQ, chocolates, ice-cream, etc.

Janice Nieder could be the love child of Indiana Jones and Julia Child. Previously a specialty food consultant in NYC, Janice is currently a San Francisco-based culinary tourism writer who has wined & dined her way through 80 countries. To keep things in balance, Janice also enjoys writing about her Girlfriend Getaways which include spa visits, soft-core adventure, cultural events, shopping, boutique hotels, and chef interviews. [Web site]